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Sep 3 30 MASCARAS IN 30 DAYS. OUR NO BS REVIEW

AH! The old mascara debate of high end vs high street. Many makeup artists will tell you this is the category where you can save your money and buy the good old pink and green tube from the drugstore.

I'm a sort of Princess and the Pea when it comes to mascara. A Goldilocks, or Goldilashes have you, when it comes to not only application and performance, but also comfort and the feel of mascara.

Nobody wants to find their mascara flaking on their cheeks. But I also want my mascara to set to a silky feel. Anything crunchy makes me worry it is drying to my lashes.

I recently committed to testing out 30 mascaras of all price points, and I want to share with you, fabulous Glossible readers, the results.

Before we get started let me tell you what you are looking at. My lashes have no lift. They have a bit of length, and they are not very full. I did not curl my lashes for these photos. These photos are not retouched or altered in any way.

So let's get started!!!!!

30 MASCARAS IN 30 DAYS!

The brush on Lash Sensational is a spiky one. The inner curve has different spikes than the outer curve. It works out nicely to allow you to use each side for different effects on top and bottom lashes. I found the formula to be very smooth, and it didn't dry too fast, allowing me ample time to get in two coats. I loved the lengthening I got from Lash Sensational. Be careful with the brush. Those spikes can hurt when accidentally hitting your eye ball. Doh!

The brush of the Rocket is fat and baton-like. And also spike filled. I struggled a bit modeling my lashes with the Rocket. The formula was very wet. The medium sized, spiked baton brush did not separate my lashes very well, and this proved to be even more of a challenge on the second coat.

This little darling comes with two wands! One on each end of the tube. The fattest brush is for top lashes, and is a traditional fiber bristle composition tapered into a helix shape. The second brush, also a fiber bristle, is much smaller in shape, purposed for getting down to business with the bottom lashes.

While the formula didn't take my lashes to the heavens the same way Lash Sensational did, I was happy with how Big Eyes thickened and kept the look soft at the same time.

Okay. Allow me a bit of fun with this one. I couldn't help but notice the "out there" styling of Maybelline's Colossal Chaotic model. I wanted to give it the old college try myself, and then some. So I beat the brush underneath my lower lashes for a really partied and rocked out look. You know, the went to a concert, drank too much, peed by the dumpster outside, and then passed out look.

The Colossal Chaotic started out innocent. So you don't immediately end up with the below look. The tip is bent a bit, so that you can go back in and "disorganize" your freshly coated lashes. It was fun. But I didn't go the day this way so I cannot speak to whether or not it flaked. But hey, even it did, who would have known?

A benefit of the Colossal Chaotic is that you can actually achieve a natural look, and a wild one too. The next time Poison comes to town this is the ticket.

I know NYC, or New York Color, has been around a while, but don't judge me for saying this, I'd never throw a mascara into my shopping basket at a price point this low. I stand corrected. I really liked the results of their Big, Bold Curl Mascara.

The brush WAS HUGE. And curved. The bristles were the traditional fiber, and not a spiky plastic model. I did two coats, wore it all day long, and had no flaking or smudging. While I liked Big Bold Curl, it didn't pass my silky touch test. It had a crispy feel to it. But hey, for under five bucks, I'm going to have to let that slide.

Rimmel Wonder'Lash contains argan oil. The brush is very responsive. It gives way with the lightest touch to the lashes and flops backwards a bit. The bristles are plastic spikes, and gave decent separation. I also liked that I didn't have any clumps to fight and work out. That is always a plus. It set nicely with a soft and silky feel.

We have another floppy wand on our hands with Miss Manga, but this time with a fiber bristle brush. I must admit, the floppy brush made it a bit hard to force separation, but I suppose that is the idea behind the Manga Effect. Should I giggle like a Japanese Harajuku Girl?

If you've never heard of Lumene, I hope my review will encourage you to step out and try this Finnish brand. For high street, the skin care line is wonderful. I never knew they made mascara until recently, and I have to say, their Blueberry Curl Mascara was my top pick for drugstore brands.

First off, it does not smell of blueberries. The brush is rubber and spiked, but very straight and somewhat on the thin side. Below you will see the results with two coats. I will let the picture speak for itself.

All day, no flakes, no smudging. And it held the curl perfectly until I took it off. I'm in love.

Organic Wear BB Mascara by Physicians Formula promises to be 100% natural, and 70% organic. The brush is 101% floppy. Again, with the floppy, flaccid brush. I did manage to separate with it, but struggled to get all of my lashes to stand at attention. It also made getting the bottom lashes a bit of a struggle. I suppose if you are looking for a natural option, this is a great alternative to traditional formulas.

And guess what? I do believe this formula would get the approval of countless Facebook beauty boards because it is infused with coconut water! In my best Madea voice, can I get a hallelujer? I was also impressed to see a pea peptide. This mascara is also non GMO. This is the first time I've noticed a non GMO promise on a cosmetic.

While it did not flake, I did get smudging. But a small price to pay for a green mascara.

I adore the Besame line. The glamorous, old fashioned packaging is really beautiful. I've been a fan of the lipsticks for years. I knew what I was getting into with the Cream Mascara. The formula comes inside a squish tube, and you apply the mascara to a disposable wand for application.

There is a learning curve to this mascara, and I am willing to continue to try and get the ratio perfect. Below you will see I had an issue. I couldn't quite manage to get the lashes to stand up, and they were weighted down. This I am sure was due to my first time use of this type of formula. I loved the pigmentation. Very black. I also liked the fact that I could use the mascara with any disposable wand I wanted.

Touch in Sol is a Korean brand that has landed at Sephora. The silk infused formula is super lightweight and I was happy to see another fiber brush. I was able to get a nice, full, and natural length look with Stretchex without any clumping.

Paper Pusher contains that tiny little hair like fibers. The end result was nice. It added length and thickened. I also found the fiber wand to separate my lashes well. However, I am not a fan of any mascara that contains the little hair like fibers. Though I do not wear contact lenses, I have yet to find a fiber filled mascara that didn't end up shedding into my eyes. Paper Pusher was no exception. Ouch. It hurt us Precious.

I have to apologize. I can't say whether this smudged or flaked. I had to take it off within an hour of application due to the pain from the fibers dropping into my eyes.

It is a truth universal that Cargo Cosmetics does not get the love it should. Their HD Picture Perfect face powder is my number one, and I simply adored the Lash Activator Mascara. The tube itself boasts nothing esthetically pleasing that would hint to the luxurious formula inside. When I first saw the brush I furrowed my brow and became concerned. I really can't say if the brush is plastic or fiber, or some hybrid. It's nothing special and looks quite nubby to be honest. But let me tell you, it created MAGIC. I would have liked more separation, but I soon learned that less is more with Lash Activator.

Volume Vixen actually contains Keratin to strengthen lashes over time. The brush was a traditional fiber, and the formula gave more thickening than volume. Overall a great everyday mascara. Though I question if wearing it everyday would be wise. Too much Keratin can make hair brittle and cause it to break.

What cute packaging Roller Lash has! The brush itself is curved, and spiked. The spikes on the outside are different from the size of the spikes on the underneath of the curved side. There is no actual roller action to this mascara. It builds beautifully and sets soft. I really liked the separation.

Great Mother of Max Factor! Who is Jo Mousselli and does she practice Lashcraft? I preface this review of Xtreme Length and Volume by saying this, you can tell when a product was made by someone who put their heart and soul into it. I wonder how many test formulations Jo had to go through before deciding this was one was just right?

The brush is traditional fiber. No floppy here. The formula glides on like butter churned from angels and silk woven from golden baby Glow Worms. You can coat it on over and over until you have every lash in the exact place you mean it to be. The pigmentation is super dark. It does not leave tiny clumps on the tops of your lashes. It's wispy, divine glamour in a tube.

I also would like to mention this mascara is safe for application to lash extensions. Google Jo and Xtreme Lashes. She has a whole business built around extensions. I'd love to try them some day. This was a favorite, and a true discovery. Thank you Jo!

Another brand new to me, VMV Hypoallergenics makes a wonderful formula in OOH-LA-LASH Mascara. The formula was very glossy, and stretched out of the tube and onto the brush. I really liked the brush, another traditional fiber model. The separation was easy, and the length and volume came with little work. I would highly recommend this one for everyday use.

Tightline boasts primer, tightliner and mascara all in one formula. Tightlining with mascara is nothing new, but I give props to the folks at It Cosmetics for putting the spotlight on the technique. While the small brush does make it easier to get to the root, I couldn't get a strong tightline with this formula.

Don't you love a multi-tasker? A multi-tasker with a naughty name is even better. Perversion is one of those mascaras that allows you to get more done in less time. Super pigmentation yields some blackety, black lashes. And there are lash benefits too! Reading the information made me do a double take. Perversion stimulates growth of lashes, strengthens, and nourishes. Thank you mother. May I have another?

If you have not discovered Ellis Faas then step into my parlor. I plan on doing a post just for Ellis and her fabulous line. This was my first experience with the mascara. Heaven. The tightline was so easy with the traditional fiber brush, and I loved the thickening effect. I got the right amount of length without going overboard. Drama without the drama. The long silver tube itself is a work of art. Pure elegance. I heart Eliis.

Josie Maran, I am a fan. Pretty sure I've never met a JM product I did not like, and Argan Black Oil Mascara is no exception. Creamy, smooth mascara nirvana awaits you. Another multi-tasker skin care containing formula, Argan Black Oil contains bamboo, a natural strengthener, and the formula itself is 91% natural. It is also a super black formula for those of you who worship the darkest pigments.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh excuse me. I just had a lashgasm. Hourglass Film Noir mascara will take you to the edge. The formula is wet, and stays that way until you have every lash, and every coat exactly as you wish. The brush is fiber, full and fabulous. Expect the same result with your lashes.

Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara has a very nice, full rubber spiked brush that dares your lashes to try and hide. It picks even the tiniest lash up and puts it in its place. Mixing it up a bit, I have one coat on the left, and two on the right to show the length I got with just one application.

A word on removal: Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara was unusually hard to remove. Be careful and don't pull at your lashes. Remember mascara removal 101 with this one. Hold your cotton pad saturated in eye makeup remover over the lashes for several seconds to allow the remover to soak into the mascara before pulling the cotton pad away. I use oil based facial cleansers in lieu of a traditional eye makeup remover. I had to take my time and hold a warm face cloth over the lashes to allow the oil based facial cleanser to really soak into the mascara to get it to break up and dissolve.

Amplitude produced gorgeous, full, wispy lashes. The color, Golden Charcoal, leaned toward the burgundy side. Very deep in shade, but the burgundy really softened the overall look. I will admit to staring at my lashes every time I came in contact with a mirror. This is a keeper.

Wow. Another win for Rouge Bunny Rouge. Megaplumes gave a full lash effect without going overboard. The color, Oxblood, was just that, and again, leant a softness to the overall look that felt a bit ethereal. I'm only just discovering the RBR line, and am already in love. Expect a review of more products to come to Glossible very soon.

Think of Lorac Cobra as a styling mascara for your lashes. The formula touts curling, lengthening and volume and it delivers. The fiber brush is shaped like the head of a cobra, with two flat sides. This allows you to take advantage of the reservoir of mascara up the middle on the flat side to add more product, and the edges of the brush are not only perfect for separating lashes, but also to bump into the lash line for a nice tightline effect. On the second coat, wherever I directed my lashes they stayed. Lorac Cobra also passed my touch test and left no crunchy feel to my lashes.

Can I get an 80's slow clap please? Just look at the tips of those lashes. Not a strange clump or fiber on them. Wispy is an understatement. I would compare the result to a set of faux mink lashes, but even faux mink would not compare to this. It's as if pixies flew in from Narnia and styled me. The tightline was a breeze with Charlotte's traditional full fiber brush. I only wish I had paid more attention to that left side and tightlined as nicely as the right side. What more can I say that doesn't come through in the picture. Would love to see this formula in a plum or oxblood shade. Sweet baby Jesus, could you even imagine?

Will I be reaching for a drugstore mascara in the future? It depends on my budget. As long as I can afford the higher end, I'm still going to indulge, but I would not hesitate to use some of the high street mascaras I tried. I particularly liked the Maybelline Lash Sensational, and Lumene Blueberry. NYC shut me up forever on believing a cheap price point equates to a cheap performing mascara.